Sleep training- Night one

I feel horrible. I feel like my insides have been gutted and my heart squeezed in a vice. But night one has been made.

We decided to start sleep training as Pi is rolling wayyyy too much. The last three nights have been filled- all night- with me putting him back on his bed, him crying, me soothing, him sleeping, me almost sleeping, then him rolling back onto my bed... Rinse and repeat.

Because of the danger factor, and the fact that sleep training only gets more painful from here on out, we decided it is time for his own room and for him to learn sleep without me.

Gosh, I feel horrible just writing that. I feel like it goes against everything I am as a mother, and every instinct, however him next to me is become not so practical, and too dangerous. Now that Pi is on solids and over 6 months, we decided that it might be best to move him now, rather than in a few months when separation anxiety kicks in fully (though, it is just starting- we have noticed when I am not around and it is just Pi and Husband, that Pi screams until I am back in view).

We have decided to use a mix of Pantley's pick up/put down, the shh pat and the disappearing chair (also called the sleep shuffle). Because we have been doing fading to wean him off my thumb- which worked brilliantly- and we have been pick up/put down-ing and shh patting for the last few weeks, little Pi has been getting to sleep better. However, we have had to have a bit more involvement the last two weeks due to the rolling (a hand must be kept on him to stop him rolling off the bed) and because of that we have noticed a bit of a regression. We moved the crib back into his room with the idea that we wanted to stay in there the whole time, but touch him as little as possible. I tried for a few minutes with just soothing with my voice, but that didn't really work, so I would get up (off the chair next to his crib) and shh and pat him just for a little bit, and then sit back down. I picked him up once, but he stopped crying immediately and got so distressed when I put him back down that I decided not to do it again.

It was heart breaking. I was sitting there, crying, singing 'twinkle twinkle' through the tears (his and mine) and watching the poor little man grip onto the bars, and try to touch me any way that he can. It still tears me up thinking about it. But the point of withholding my touch is so that he doesn't need it to go to sleep. I tried waiting at least 2 mins between patting him and soothing him with my touch. It was so hard. Everything in me wanted to pick him up and take him back to my bed to cuddle throughout the night.

Half an hour later- he was asleep/passed out. I stayed in there for a little bit to make sure he was truly asleep and then came downstairs with the baby monitor.

It took less time than I was expecting. I hope that the sleep training training that I have been doing (here) helped.

I am glad that I didn't give up and hope that he is able to make this transition well.

My big, brave boy!

How to... Solids

I've been finding it really difficult to find information on how to start solids. Just like sleep training, the information is all over the place: Don't start solids before 6 months, start after 4, start by 7 or they'll never eat food. Give them a teaspoon once a day, feed them as much as they'll eat, feed them three times a day, purée it, babies need to eat lumps or they'll won't respond as well to food, only feed them some foods, pumpkin is okay at 6 months, unless it's U.K. pumpkin- then you need to wait until 8 months....

Where on earth to start. We ended up giving Pi rice cereal as a first food, and are slowly introducing veggies. The baby food making class I went to suggested buying a wooden pestle from the dollar store and boil the veggies and then putting them through a strainer in order to purée it. I went down the western route and steam my veggies and then have bought a hand blender (from Yamada Denki- here) to purée the foods. Nice and easy.

As for how much though, the best place I have found information was from 'Healthy Alberta'- click here for the link. I figure a Canadian government initiative might have it's head screwed on, and seemed to be taking a nice middle ground. The PDF contains lots of great information, including how to prepare and store baby food.

So, how many meals a day does baby need? For 6 to 8 months I should offer 1 to 3 meals per day, so I am going the middle route at 6 months by offering 2 small meals a day. I am giving him about a tablespoon of prepared food (either cereal or veggies). I have cooked a lot of veggies the other day, and have puréed and frozen them and then sealed the cubes in plastic bags in the freezer. When it is time to eat all I have to do is defrost a cube out of the freezer and voilà- instant yummies. It doesn't taste too bad either. At least, Pi hasn't been complaining.

Solids

Happy half birthday Pichan!!!

He has finally hit six months, which means that we have finally started solids. We actually gave him a little taster two weekends ago, of rice cereal because we knew he would have a taste of something at the baby food making class I went to (cooking class);  and Husband wanted to give him his first food. I also wanted him to, as I feel bad over him missing of so many of Pichan's firsts. 

The great news is that Pichan relished it! He loved his food and his little legs kicked away with excitement. We bought rice cereal off of I-herb (click here for a discount off your first order*). I chose this one because of the added DHA and probiotics, and it's a brand I know. Pi quite likes it, as much as he likes anything else we have fed him, anyway. So far, we have given him sweet potato, both as purée and chunks (he didn't mind it) and puréed broccoli (I think the jury is still out on that one)

I had been saving the new foods to try for the weekend, so Husband can give them to Pi, but my Japanese teacher was telling me her daughter feeds her son new foods on a weekday- so that if there are any allergic reactions the hospitals will be open. Good thinking! I have been careful to not feed new foods to late in the day in order to watch for reactions, but I wasn't even thinking that hospitals might be closed (and they really can be). Now we will be giving Pi new foods only during hospital/doctor hours, but we hope he doesn't have any bad reactions.

Happy Hantoshi!

*First-time customers will save $10 on purchases of $40 or more, or $5 if the order is less than $40. Depending upon the total of the order, they may receive discounted or free shipping as well.

Pampers attempt again

Merries, I love 'em, but are just about always sold out (thats-where-all-my-nappies-are-going) so I thought I would give Pampers one last shot. After all, maybe his skin has changed since Pi being a newborn, and he does poop a whole lot less (thankfully!). The Pampers M size do have awesome stretchy tabs, which make putting them on a breeze, but surely enough after a few days of wearing them, my little one's bottom was all red again. I have super sensitive skin, so maybe Pi takes after me on the account. Either way, we won't be buying Pampers again.

I would like to note though, that other people haven't had this problem.

That's where all my nappies are going

I always knew that there was a bit of a shortage of Merries nappies in Japan (my favourite due to being a bit longer, and no nappy rash problems), and I was aware it was sometimes because of Chinese people buying the nappies and selling them back in China... But arrested for it...

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/10/22/three-chinese-men-arrested-in-japan-for-buying-too-many-diapers/

Cooking class

Last Thursday I went to a 'cooking baby food' class at my local health centre. I was a bit worried whether or not I would understand it, but thankfully I had little trouble. There were four other ladies there as well (including my former student).

So I arrived nice and early andafter filling out a form all about Pi and how he was feeling for the day, Pi started to cry. One of the ladies picked him up to settle him, and after my form was finished and Pi was still crying (no surprise) I went to take him. Nope. I mean that in the nicest possible way, but after the woman said not to worry, I realised that I was to leave him while I did the class in the next room. There were about 6 volunteers to take care of the babies while us ladies learned how to cook. But, Pi, being Pi and a bit of a sensitive baby really wasn't happy to not be around him mum. I went into the 'kitchen' and listened to his little cry, but they assured me they were professionals and I figured that Pi needs to learn at some stage to be without me for an hour or two at a time. Unfortunately he cried for quite a while, which means I was on the edge of my seat listening and waiting for a break in the talk for me to check. Luckily he stopped crying eventually, and when I stuck my head back in the room to check he was okay, he was happily playing with toys. I think I spoil him too much..

The class itself was interesting. We made pangaiyu (or something like that), which is boiled white bread in milk. Learned how to chop spinach, leaned how to make okayu (boiled, watery rice) and learned which consistency to make baby food for each month. They like to add 'dashi' to food when they mash it (like carrots), which I found kind of gross. Carroty fish- yum... We did boil a little bit of fish with potato starch too. I think Pi would have like it. We tried each of the dishes, and it really made me aware of just how western my tastebuds are. I really am not into boiled fish, or soggy bread... Just me though.


 (Okayu)



Once again I was super proud of my little man. He was so tired, and wouldn't nap, but still kicking away happily. He is also very physically developed compared to some of the placid babies, though, not as chubby. I think his genes is keeping him lean, and all that moving he constantly does. At the end of the class, we fed our babies a bit of the 'okayu' water, which Pi gobbled down like a champ. It was nice for him to try it, though I don't think I will be making okayu myself. Too much work, for what seems like little nutritional value.

3-4 month health check

Last Thursday was Pi's 3-4 month health check. I know, I know- late hey. But this one isn't my fault. You see, in my town they combine all the babies 3-4 month check from a certain date range. In my case it was all the babies born from the 23rd of April (Pi was born on the 24th) until some date in September. Which means Pi was one of the eldest. There was a baby born on the 23rd though,so he wasn't the oldest.

The check was at the local 'health' centre, which is a big concrete building in the middle of town. After registering and surrendering the boshi-techo, and a questionnaire (I had only half filled the questionnaire due to all the Kanji), I went into a tatami room filled with other residents with their babies peacefully lying on cushions on the floor. Needless to say, when I put Pi down he did not 'peacefully' lie on the floor. Instead there was rolling, and kicking and general thrashing about. I am proud of my little boy though, at least he is energetic.

We had a midwife speak to us about our health, and to watch our calories (they really don't like people getting fat in this country), and then talk about feeding baby solids for the first time, which was useful. After that, we were split into halves, and I went through to speak to another midwife about Pi, and any problems I was having. There was the usual questions on the form about weight and feeding, and she read the ones out that I couldn't answer- which were things like "do I have any help with the baby", and "do I get angry with my baby". After that, we were back to sitting on another tatami floor while we stripped off our babies and waited to be weighed and measured. Then, the doctor poked and prodded for a bit, but gave Pi a clean bill of health.

After all that was done, we were given back our boshi techo, but had another talk (individually) with a lady from "book smart", who gave Pi a free book (which is awesome). She had 3 to choose from, so it was nice that we had a choice. I think it was part of a reading initiative. This is the one I chose. Kind of Japanese peek-a-boo.



I also signed up for a 'how to make solid foods' class, which is on tomorrow. I can't wait!

All in all, a successful visit. The next check isn't until 8 months, but will be done by the paediatrician.

Jackhammering and babies

There is a beautiful family shrine next to our terrace house. It's nice to look at, and doesn't creep me out like I thought it might. A few weeks ago, our landlord died (and now the rent goes to his son) and his name was added to the plaque.

From yesterday, though, they have begun a total overhaul of the site. It's been interesting in a way, for example I now know that there are actually people buried there (They were placing mostly burnt, but not quite cremated bones). They even had a priest come last weekend to do something with the site. At first, we thought bless it, but maybe he was trying to appease the spirits and apologise in advance for messing with their resting place.

Unfortunately, for little Pi. It has meant jackhammers and circular saws for the last two days. Anyone following will know how precious the little sleep is that he actually gets, let alone when you also place in rock thrown into the back of trucks and constant hammering. Looks like we will be going out again today...

Sleep training training progress

It has been well over a week now that I have been 'training' for sleep training. My personal attitude to being a mother is to take a nurturing approach, and keeping telling myself that the difficulties wont last forever. So this training for training approach that I have been taking is gentle, but yet working nicely for me and Pi.

Basically, I just lie down next to him, trying not to touch him if possible, but if he needs my touch I don't withhold it. I pat either him or the mattress (he seems to prefer it when I touch the mattress though), and either shhh or sing twinkle twinkle. The aim of the game is for him to learn to settle himself, and most of the time he has been doing it beautifully. He does do his little 'mantra' cry for a bit, and often needs to touch me somehow, but then sucks his thumb or fingers and then goes to sleep in his crib.

Still only for 30 mins though.

His night sleeps are getting much better too. He goes down VERY easily most of the time. Within 5 mins of me laying him down on the mattress. It's so lovely. For a while he has only been waking up 3 times a night, but the last night or two it has been four. Though he does do a 5 hours stretch at the start of the night.

The reason he is getting a little bit tricky for sleeping at night, and also for naps, is he is going through another wonderweek- again! This one is shorter though, and should be over in 3 weeks, max. Until then, I will keep going and hope I am creating some good habits.

How quickly time flies

I was in babies r us and going past the 'baby on board' signs, and started reminicing about how long ago it was that we bought ours, and how excited we were to be having a baby on the way. I thought, how lucky I am to have such a beautiful boy, and looked down at him in the pram and he was pulling serious 'rodent' face as he chewed on his teether.

It really is awesome being a mum sometimes